Police officer accused of stealing money from department

By Jay Cockrell

Published 3:11 pm, Friday, October 26, 2012

A former Kountze police officer is facing a felony after he was accused of taking money from the department earlier this year.

Donald Allen Smith, 49, was arrested Wednesday and charged with theft by a public servant. Smith, who had worked for the department for about five years, has since been released from jail on a $5,000 bond.

The investigation began on October 11 when Kountze Police Chief Andy Trahan contacted the Texas Rangers in reference to $2,000 missing from the department's evidence room, according to a report filed by Ranger Kenneth Parks.

In the report, Parks says the money had been placed in the evidence room in May 2011, and was taken somewhere around May 15, 2012. In that year, five employees had access to the area.

Interviews were conducted on all five people, the report also says, and "several discrepancies" were observed on one. A voluntary polygraph test was then performed on Smith.

Parks report goes on to say that the Kountze police officer then confessed to taking the $2,000 for "personal unpaid bills."

The theft charge is a 3rd degree felony, said Justice of the Peace Tommy Hall. If convicted, Smith faces up to 10 years in prison in addition to a fine.

Smith has not been indicted.

"We have to take a look at the case, and prepare it for the grand jury," said District Attorney David Sheffield.

"The department is in shock over what has happened," said Trahan. "But I assure you the officers here will be held to the same standards –even higher standards - than anyone else."